Valve operating mechanism



Ap 1950 I I R. J. FINCH' ETAL 2,505,106

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 50, 1946 .INVENTDRS Raymund wlFi'nch AndArthur EHar-rin tun, Den-eased, MinnieM.Harr'in tun, Adminiattr'atrix ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 25, 1950 asserts NT QFFICE VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Raymond J. Finch, Schenectady, N. Y., and Arthur P. Harrington, deceased, late of Schenectady, N. Y., by Minnie'M. Harrington, administratrix, Schenectady, N. Y.

Application January 30, 1946, Serial No. 644,328

1 Claim. 1

i This invention relates to a valve-operating mechanism.

It is an object of this invention to produce a positive acting valve mechanism which is particularly adapted for use as a shut-off valve for the fuel system of an internal combustion engine.

It is a further object of this invention to produce a valve mechanism which will always remain either fully open or shut and which will not dwell in an intermediate position.

A further object is to produce such a valve mechanism without the use of springs, except within the valve body itself, and in which the elements are protected against accidental damage.

Another object of the invention is to produce a valve-operating structure of generally improved design which is easy to manufacture using readily available materials and with few critical dimensions and which embodies means for compensating for wear in the valve or for variations in the manufacturing operations.

Other objects will be apparent from reading the specification.

The preferred method of achieving the above objects is shown on the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 i a plan view of the valve-operating mechanism;

Figure 2 is an elevation view of the valve-operating mechanism; and

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the cam designated it} in Figures 1 and 2.

Like numbers refer to the same parts throughout the drawings.

Referring now to the specific structur illustrated by the drawings, the numeral It indicates I the frame member of the valve-operating mechanism. Frame t is of generally U-shaped cross section. The frame 4 has holes bored through both of its side members forming two bearings for a shaft 5. One end of shaft 6 extend beyond frame 4 and is provided with an operating lever '8. Preferably the outer end of the operating lever is curved as illustrated so that the lever may be more readily moved when it is adjacent to a hat surface. Shaft =3 "also is provided with a cam 99 which is located between and is almost as wide as the space between the side members of frame 4. Lever E and cam It! are both fastened to shaft 6 so that all rotate together. This may be accomplished by welding or pinning the lever and cam to the shaft, or by means of keys l2 and it respectively.

The frame 4 is also bored to provide a bearing for a second shaft it. Fitted between the side members on frame fl is an arm it. This arm rotates on the shaft I6,.and may or may not be free to turn relative thereto. The upper portion of arm is is cutaway in the middle to forms. fork. The arms of the fork are bored to provide a bearing for shaft 2t. Fitted over shaft 26 is a piece 22. One end of piece 22 is threaded so'that the threaded valve actuating rod 2 may be screwed into it. Rod 25 may be provided with a nut 25 to lock the rod place after it has been screwed in the desired distance.

The other end of rod 213 is connected with the valve 28 in any convenient manner. A preferred method of making the connection is illustrated and consists of inserting a cotter key 35 through a hole drilled in the rod and the yoke 32 of the valve. When the connection is made in this manner it is simple to make adjustments to compensate for variations in the length of the rod, wear of the valve seat and the like. The cotter key 3% may be removed and the rod turned until the desired adjustment is obtained. The valve 28 is of conventional design and will not be described in detail. The valve illustrated is of the pulloperated type and is normally held in a closed position by means of a spring B l. When the yoke 32 of the valve is pulled the the valve is opened.

The cam ii) has two primary or operating faces, 9 and H, which are substantially from each other. The cam is made so that the distances between face 9 and the opening i3 for shaft 6 differs from the distance between face it and opening It. The two cam faces 9 and H are joined by a curved surface l5. The cam faces 9 and H are so arranged that they engage arm l3 and cause arm E8 to move, thus actuating the valve through rod 24.

In the mechanism illustrated, face 9 is further from opening 53 than face i Face 9 is disposed so that when it is in contact with arm l8, arm i8 is pushed outwardly, pulling the rod 2 8 so that valve 28 is open. When cam face I I is in contact with arm l8, arm i8 is allowed to swing inwardly so that the valve is closed.

Since the two primary cam faces are flat it is apparent that when the cam is in one position that it will require some force to change the position of the valve. Thus, the valve will stay in one position and there is little danger that a jar or vibration will change its position. It is equally apparent that since the transition face is curved the valve will not stay in an intermediate position.

One typical application in which the present invention has proved very useful is in the fuel system of motor vehicles, particularly tanks. Here a shut-off valve is needed which is positive in its action and which is not apt to be dislodged when set in the desired position. 5

Many variations of the structure described are possible without departing from the spirit of this invention and we do not limit ourselves to the specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

What we claim is: l

A valve operating mechanism for a pull-operated valve comprising, in combination, a frame having two spaced side members, a shaft rotatably supported by said side members, a cam attached to said shaft between said side members 1 and rotatable with said shaft, said cam having two fiat operating faces substantially 90 from each other and joined by a curved transition face, said two flat faces being located at relatively different distances from said shaft, an arm pivo 20 ally mounted at one end thereof between said side members, said arm being positioned for contact intermediate the ends thereof by alternate ones of said two flat faces of said cam upon rotation of the latter, whereby said arm is subject 2 to pivotal motion, an adjustable rod connected to said arm at the other end thereof and adapted to be connected to said valve for transmitting 4 motion to the latter, and an operating lever attached to said shaft and rotatable therewith for rotating said cam.

RAYMOND J. FINCI-I. MINNIE M. HARRINGTON, Administratria: of Estate of Arthur P. Harrington,

Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

